THE ABSOLUTE DO'S AND DONT'S OF ZIPPO LIGHTERS.

hello,i have seen many instructables on what you can do with zippos,but i have not seen a comp-lete guide where the author lists what you should and shouldn't do with a zippo lighter.

please excuse the lack of pictures,but i will post them if i feel they are needed.

Step 1 The history of the zippo lighter

George G. Blaisdell invented the Zippo lighter in 1932, and got his idea after discovering a large and bulky Austrian made pocket lighter. Blaisdell was an oil engineer who saw a audience for a good looking lighter that would function even in windy conditions. He produced the first Zippo lighter in Bradford, Pennsylvania.he called it the ZIPPO because he liked the sound of the word "ZIPPER"


Zippos are classified as windproof lighters, and are are able to remain lighted in almost any wind situation. They were common in the United States armed forces, particularly in the second world war standard silver Zippo a military zippo lighter was standard gear for all men in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. During that period, all Zippo lighters produced went to the Allied war effort. In fact, during the conflict, since brass was needed for weapon systems, the interiors of zippos were primarily stainless steel. Following the war, Zippo reverted to the traditional brass design.

Additionally, Zippo lighters are known for the lifetime guaranty they carry: if a Zippo breaks down, no matter how old, the company will replace or repair the lighter for free.

Approx. 200,000 Zippo lighters were owned by U.S. military personnel in the Vietnam War. In one instance, a Zippo lighter transported in a shirt pocket blocked a bullet from going in a soldiers body.

these are the facts i have read from various websites. now while i did copy and paste,I ALSO READ THEM AS THOUROUGHLY(spelling?) as possible.I have confirmed their accuracy,but feel free to comment otherwise.

Comments

[Toogroovy]

I always put a dab of fluid on the wick before lighting if the lighter has run dry. This way it lights the first time. Also Zippos are easily overfilled. Do not fill it far enough that you see fluid on top of the rayon, pour it out. Problem is there isn't a tight seal on the Zippo and it will leak out in your pocket making a nice burning red welt on your leg which gets smaller and more intense after a few hours. Also when lit the whole top half of the lighter including the lid will set ablaze. (unless you like that sort of thing)

[Toogroovy]

I am differing with you on the use of the disposable lighter flint. These flints are cheaper and made much harder than The Zippo flints. I used to do that and eventually they will wear out the abrasion on the striker wheel. Zippo flints are much softer and do not wear out the wheel.

[ian060695]

the story of a soldiers zippo lighter blocking a bullet is incredibly false. u have to completly not know how guns work to believe that. if a bullets coming at you a thin piece of alluminum isnt gonna stop a bullet, i guarentee that guys either dead or alive and sucessfully made a b.s. story. also in the vietnam war the zippos they used where "mini Zippos" as we know them now, and basically they were a zippo that was cut in half

[Ragnarocker]

you are making the assumption that the bullet came at an absolute perpendicular trajectory. However, if the bullet struck the zippo at an angle, it could potentially ricochet and not harm the soldier. So, it can save a life, but its not body armour.

Cheers!

[ian060695]

im sorry in advance if this sounds like im being an ass but im trying my best not to. anyways im not sure you fully understand the ballistics of firearms. in order for a bullet to be even capable of ricocheting off a aluminum you have to be almost directly aligned with the metal. and if your in the engle to where it will ricochet off off aluminum then even if you didnt have the lighter there it wouldnt be a deadly wound. heres a link to a video of a bullet going through an inch thick of solid steel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfDoQwIAaXg it doesnt go through but it makes a hell of a dent and thats an INCH thick of SOLID steel. were talking about a thin layer of aluminum.

[Ragnarocker]

Well my friend, sadly I think it may be you who doesn't completely understand ballistics. Firstly, your video is a bullet going through ballistics gel, not steel plates. Second, those are not your casual 9mm either, those were higher caliber rounds, probably hollow point and armor piercing to see the comparison. Furthermore, its not one flimsy piece of aluminum, its two! and with cotton in between. It can perform as a cushion effect, AT AN ANGLE! so what im saying is that it will most likely NOT protect you from a shot right to your zippo from near point blank, but can potentially defend you from a possible bullet wound caused by a bullet fired at an angle to your lighter. Please get back to me, I'm eager to see where this goes!

Cheers!

[ian060695]

The Link*

[PSPerson]

I fueled my zippo with charcoal fluid... it has a bit lower flashing point (making it a bit less ready to start) but it still works quite effectively and safely.

[edlivesay]

Several of you are correct..... Reading the ingredients of Zippo fuel, one notes that the main if not only ingredient is Naptha.... reading the ingredients of Coleman (or other brands of "white gas") we find that it is nothing more than Naptha.

You can pay $3 for 6 oz of Zippo or you can pay $10 or so for a gallon (prices going up like everything else).

Naptha is Naptha.

[That One Eegit]

ive even seen paint thinner used in an emergency

[tim127]

i have some ronsonol and if you look in the bottom right corner on the back it says "zippo manufacturing company"

[pyro man]

Well there you have it then :)

[XOIIO]

A zippo alone can not possibly stop a bullet. This has been tested. There had to have been protective armor underneath the shirt. The same has been said about an ipod, and that is false too.

[billybobjhonson]

while it may not take a direct hit to the face of the zippo it will in fact take a glancing hit quite well, it was never stated either or so in some cases yes in fact it will stop a bullet from hitting you, either way that is one lucky guy

[Plo Koon]

Nice smiley face. : )

[Plo Koon]

I'd say that soilder guy was PRETTY DARN LUCKY !!!!!!!!!!!

[taji kato]

so zippo can use any type of fluid or brand?

[franklinonline]

 it works with coleman lantern fuel, 7$ for a gallon. Will last a long time

[matt_and_nick]

do you know if you can use kerosene or mineral oil?

[pyro man]

correct

[Nicola Tesla]

http://www.dealextreme.com sells good ones for under 5$

[JakePtehSniper]

it really kind of sucked though. i had to refuel it every day, even if i hardly used it the previous.

[JakePtehSniper]

the little piece of metal in the striker broke in mine, but im not gonna go through the trouble of sending it back just to get a new one.

[rzitex]

While you can use ronsonol fluid, I personally recommend you don't. While I use my zippo mainly for cigarettes, I do use it for other stuff and I have found that the formula in the ronsonol changes the flavor a lot to a disgusting point. Its also inferior in the actual formula. The reason that zippo says that you should only use their brand is quality control, and so when someone sends in a damaged zippo that they destroyed by using cologne (yea, did that to a 2 dollar fake zippo, the ones you see next to shot glasses and stuff) and say they demand it repaired.

[wouternet]

This morning I used denatured alcohol to fill my fake, but good quality built Zippo, and now it won't come on! i used before a type of solvant, i think it's called washing benzine (gas) (i'm from europe, i don't know how it's called stateside).

Also I have to refill very regularly, almost daily!
anyone have an idea? please DM it to me!

[jethrow815]

are all wicks created equal?  I have a freebee from Marlboro not quite a Zippo (but seems to be constructed well )
It fails at lighting maybe once in 4-5 flicks

I tried a couple different flint brands, currently using Ronsonol fluid
replaced the cotton that came with it...maybe 12..? small chunks down to 5 good size chunks of my cotton.

the wick is the only thing I have not replaced, it's still long and I have it weaved for good absorption.

could this be the issue?

[EldarKinSlayer]

I have a bunch of Freebee lighters from Marlboro all are real Zippos.

[taterkiller]

i got a ripoff zippo 4 $3 and i use gasoline and it works really well

[HeWantsRevenge]

gasoline? +1 man XD

[Void Schism]

I have heard of people replacing the rayon with silk (eg. shred an old silk tie) as silk is very absorbent and holds more fuel

[hello people]

Im getting a zippo in a couple days(stupid mail) and this guide really helped, so where did you get your fuel from?

[sk8r4life]

walmart ciggerete isle sells generic fluid and flints

[sharlston]

carboots.shop,corner shop or anywhere that sells cigatrettes

[cbrown222]

hardware store sells it too

[hello people]

like home depot and lowes?

[cbrown222]

ya i have this place near me called true value, but home depot and lowes are cheaper. even your grocery store would have lighter fluid. not zippo lighter fluid, but lighter fluid nonetheless

[hello people]

I found some at a King Soopers (the rest of the world may know it by Kroger).

[pyro man]

my local gas station. it should be said that in tennessee(my state)it is illegal for minors to purchase lighter fluid.i dont know what the law is in your state,but it also might be illegal for you to purchase fluid.if that is not the case,then all you have to do is ask about lighter fluid,(remember that any brand will do!!!)

[hello people]

Cool, thanks i think ill just get my parents to buy for me..

[thestyrofoampeanut]

Could i fuel mine with isopropyl alcohol? its 70%